While every industry experiences its own set of trends and developments, the software industry is not an exception. It is dynamic and constantly changing. As we head into 2024, software development trends are redefining the landscape of technology and business.
The software development company is going through a major change with the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), along with the growing popularity of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR).
With the increase in the number of developers globally, it is important to know software development trends, including the testing trends, especially while performing manual and automation testing, to stay competitive and relevant in the industry.
In this article, we will explore the most important software development trends in 2024, offering insights into the technologies, practices, and innovations that shape the developers’ future and why it is essential for developers to adopt these trends.
What is Software Development?
Software development is a process that involves the process of creating, designing, testing, deploying, and maintaining computer programs or software applications. It includes a series of steps or methodologies, including requirements analysis, design, coding or implementation, testing, deployment, and maintenance. Software development can be from minor projects, such as the development of a small mobile application, to large and complex enterprise systems, such as an online banking platform.
Once a website or web application is designed or developed, testing it across a wide range of browsers and operating systems is equally important to ensure a seamless and uniform user experience. This is where cross browser testing platforms like LambdaTest come into play. LambdaTest is an AI-powered test execution platform that allows you to test your websites and web applications in over 3000 environments, both manually and through an automated approach.
Why is it Important to Adopt the Latest Software Development Trends?
Adopting software development trends is of utmost importance for many reasons, as it allows the software development company to stay competitive, increase efficiency, and meet maximum user expectations.
- Increased Efficiency
Trends bring efficiency to the software development process, making it more productive and saving time and money. Hence, developers must implement these trends in their current development process for improved efficiency.
- Enhanced User Experience
Improved User Experience Adoption of UI and UX design trends helps developers build software serving maximum users and satisfying them for a seamless experience, increasing customer retention.
- Staying Ahead of The Competition
To survive in the industry and to gain a competitive advantage, it is crucial to adopt trends often. This will help deliver the updated software and perform better than competitors.
- Security
With the increased cases of cyber threats, developers must be aware of security trends. Adopting these trends helps create strong software to protect sensitive data, ensuring compliance with industry standards.
Top Software Development Trends
The software development landscape is constantly changing due to rapidly developing technologies. It is important for developers and businesses to keep up with recent trends, from AI to low-code, while staying on track with new ideas for designing and deploying software solutions that will help to shape the future of this industry. In this section, we will cover some top software development trends of today, which shape the markets, giving all details and scope of their impact on software developers.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)
As per a recent survey report, about 78% of the brands have already integrated AI into their online platforms and software, and many are on the verge of using it.
In 2024, everybody wants to use voice recognition and chatbots for increased productivity and efficiency, exemplifying the importance of AI and ML. There are numerous other benefits of using AI, mentioning a few: no human error, 24*7 availability, and unbiased and faster decisions.
Now, let us see how AI will impact developers.
AI in software development can change how developers design, create, and debug the software. AI can also be used to speed up adding features and fixing bugs.
- AI helps draft user stories, acceptance criteria, and requirements, ensuring they align with the overall strategy.
- AI helps create a basic UI design, leaving complex designs to humans. This basic design can then be used by the developers to create complex designs, saving time and money.
- With AI assistance, developers can write a high volume of codes, increasing the overall rate of delivery.
- As AI produces high-volume codes, testing will become crucial to check how the code is performing across all platforms and fix any errors.
Knowing how and when to use AI will greatly impact developers’ ability to get the most out of the available tools.
Similarly, ML is another one of the most significant trends in 2024.
There are several advantages to integrating ML into software development.
- Automated process
- Enhanced decision-making
- Reduced costs and risks.
The integration of machine learning into software development takes automated processes and decision-making to another level. The ability of ML algorithms to analyze tremendous amounts of data, predict future behavior, and automate repeating activities creates untapped opportunities for developers and companies. Therefore, to benefit from the new opportunities brought by ML, it is recommended that resources be allocated to hiring personnel and creating infrastructure. In addition, to continue thriving, businesses are also recommended to remain informed about developments in machine learning and look for cutting-edge applications appropriate for business use.
Low Code/No-Code Development Platforms
Low code, or no code, as the name suggests, means developing software or applications without aggressive coding or no coding at all. These platforms can be used to create prototypes that can drag and drop to assist in fast-tracked development of software.
According to reports, it saves 90% of the time used for mobile application development through low-code or no-code development. Thus, developers are willing to use these platforms for both mobile and web applications.
This also explains why new developers are getting a kickstart in the software industry without putting in excessive effort. Big companies that are adopting these software development trends include Wix and Appian.
Although these platforms are becoming mainstream, concerns over their future flexibility and scalability exist.
Augmented Reality (AR) And Virtual Reality (VR)
AR and VR are emerging technologies transforming the software development landscape.
As per reports, 35% of customers prefer AR technology while doing online shopping because it offers a quality user experience.
Top companies using AR, VR, or mixed technology include Apple, Microsoft, Samsung Electronics, and Qualcomm.
Since these technologies are becoming more popular, developers should test features like object recognition, tracking, and rendering to ensure VR and AR applications work well.
Edge-Computing
Edge-computing is a distributed model that places the power of computation at the data source. This means data is processed at or close to the source instead of centralized data centers or cloud deployments. The rationale is to minimize latency requirements, improve data privacy, and improve network expenditure.
There are several reasons why edge computing is important for software development.
- Faster response times: Edge computing brings computation closer to the edge, allowing applications to respond more rapidly. This is especially important for real-time activities and experience.
- Data privacy: Edge computing discourages heavy reliance on centralized server data transfer, which enhances data privacy. Data processing occurs at the local level, reducing vulnerability to external threats.
- Reduced data transfer expense: Data processing closer to the edge decreases the amount of data sent to the cloud on a large scale.
Expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT)
The Internet of Things (IoT) has become the connectivity fabric that binds digital ecosystems, smart devices, and the physical world. As we move through 2024, the IoT landscape is expanding rapidly, with an estimated 29 billion connected devices expected by 2030. This growth isn’t just about numbers; it’s changing everything and driving innovation across industries.
Key Trends in IoT in 2024:
- Edge Computing and 5G: The proliferation of IoT devices is giving rise to edge computing, where data processing is done closer to the source. With the rollout of 5G networks, IoT devices are becoming smarter, more autonomous, and more efficient.
- Smart homes and cities: The smart home sector is one of the leading consumers of IoT devices. By 2024, within five years, IoT will be widely embedded into everyday home tasks, leading to the adaptation of smart cities.
- Voice Assistants and Millennial Adoption: Voice assistants are one of the most prominent IoT ecosystems. The hands-free conversation interface is rapidly growing, especially among millennials.
According to Statista, the revenue earned by IoT-related technology is estimated to cross $1.6 trillion by 2025. Hence, this indicates a lot of potential in this field.
The need for rigorous testing increases as IoT applications become more complex, integrating AI, edge computing, and 5G.
Wrapping it Up
The software development industry is being reshaped by its recent changes. Therefore, these software developments are dedicated to innovation and efficiency, including the use of AI, ML, together with low-code and no-code platforms that also incorporate cybersecurity. Similarly, they expand on blockchain applications even with the adoption of AR and VR technologies in order to have more immersive experiences.
It is essential for developers and organizations to keep up with what’s happening around them because not only should they create new things but also meet user needs better within this digital era, which constantly changes.
If you want your tech business or career as a developer to succeed, then now is the time to start planning your steps accordingly!
